Presidential Election 2024: Ghana Awaits Official Announcement

Ghana’s 2024 presidential election has concluded, with voting ending at 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.

Citizens now await the announcement of results, a process overseen by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

The election pits the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, against opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, in what is expected to be a closely contested race.

Election Process Overview

The Electoral Commission of Ghana is solely responsible for announcing official results. According to the Commission, the collation process begins at polling stations, where results sheets are collected. These sheets are sent to constituency collation centers, where constituency-level results are declared.

From there, results are forwarded to regional collation centers, where they are combined, and winners for each region are declared. Finally, all results are transmitted to the Electoral Commission headquarters in Accra.

Representatives from political parties, observers, and journalists oversee the process at the headquarters. The Electoral Commission Chairperson will consolidate the results and declare the winner.

Voting, which commenced at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, was conducted across 275 constituencies, with close to 19 million registered voters. The results are expected within 72 hours after the close of polls.

Key Candidates and Context

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia represents the NPP and seeks to “Break the 8,” a slogan symbolizing the party’s ambition to win a third consecutive term. An economist and current Vice President, Bawumia has served under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo since 2017.

He emphasizes economic recovery through digitalization and continued social programs. However, his campaign faces criticism due to Ghana’s recent economic struggles under Akufo-Addo’s administration, including soaring inflation and a debt default.

John Dramani Mahama, a former President from 2012 to 2017, is running as the NDC candidate, promising to “reset” the nation with policies aimed at creating a 24-hour economy and renegotiating aspects of Ghana’s $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. While his campaign resonates with voters frustrated by economic hardship, critics recall his previous tenure, marked by financial challenges and energy crises.

Election Day Observations

Ghana’s election day was characterized by high voter turnout and peaceful proceedings. The government temporarily closed land borders to ensure the vote’s integrity, and polling stations remained open for 10 hours, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

One voter expressed the prevailing sentiment: “We want to vote for change; the economic situation is very hard. The cost of living is high,” said James Nsiah, a retired policeman casting his ballot in Accra.

Challenges Facing Ghana’s Next Leader

This election comes at a critical time for Ghana, a nation grappling with high inflation, unemployment, and the impact of a depreciating cedi. Although inflation has eased from a peak of 54.1% in 2022 to around 23%, living standards remain low. The next administration will also have to address issues like illegal gold mining, which has polluted water bodies and harmed agricultural lands, and growing insecurity in the northern regions due to jihadist spillovers from neighboring countries.

Historical and Electoral Dynamics

Since 1992, Ghana’s presidency has alternated between the NPP and the NDC, with no party ever winning more than two consecutive terms. This dynamic raises the stakes for both candidates. A presidential candidate must secure over 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff, making every ballot crucial in this tight race.

As Ghanaians await the results, the election represents not only a choice between two leading candidates but also a referendum on Ghana’s economic direction and governance.